Where are Polk County foreclosure auctions held?

Polk County runs its foreclosure sales online through RealForeclose, at https://polk.realforeclose.com. Monday to Friday, except legal holidays, 10:00 am Eastern.

What deposit is required at a Polk County foreclosure sale?

5% of your estimated final bid, by electronic check or in person by cash, cashier's check or money order.

When is the balance due after winning a Polk County foreclosure auction?

The balance plus the registry service charge is due in person by 12:00 pm Eastern the next business day, or the sale is declared void and reset.

Polk County Foreclosure Auctions: Times & Deadlines

Polk County foreclosure auctions run on RealForeclose at polk.realforeclose.com, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am Eastern: the deposit is 5% of your estimated final bid, with the balance due by 12:00 pm the next business day. Fees include: $70 judicial sale fee and a $70 electronic sale fee; court registry; documentary stamps. Read from the clerk's own site on September 19, 2026.

Covers Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow.

Auction site: RealForeclose
Sale days: Monday to Friday, except legal holidays
Sale time: 10:00 am Eastern
Deposit: 5% of your estimated final bid, by electronic check or in person by cash, cashier's check or money order
Balance: The balance plus the registry service charge is due in person by 12:00 pm Eastern the next business day, or the sale is declared void and reset

Polk County foreclosure auction fees

$70 judicial sale fee and a $70 electronic sale fee
Court registry: 3% of the first $500, then 1.5% of each subsequent $100
Documentary stamps: $0.70 per $100

How a Polk County foreclosure sale runs

Step 1
The lender sues and records a lis pendens
Florida is a judicial foreclosure state, so every foreclosure is a lawsuit in circuit court. The lis pendens is the public notice that the case exists. This is where we start tracking a property.
Step 2
The judge signs a final judgment
The final judgment states what is owed and orders the clerk to sell the property. The statute calls for a sale 20 to 35 days out, though courts often set it later.
Step 3
The clerk publishes the notice of sale
The sale is advertised for two weeks running. Most Florida clerks then run the auction online through their county RealForeclose site; a handful of smaller counties still sell at the courthouse.
Step 4
Auction day
Bidding starts at the judgment amount and closes fast. You bid with your own cash: the winner posts a 5% deposit at the sale and pays the balance on the clerk's deadline, in most counties by the next business day.
Step 5
Certificate of sale, then ten quiet days
The clerk files a certificate of sale, which ends the owner's right of redemption. Anyone with standing then has ten days to object to the sale.
Step 6
Certificate of title, then possession
With no objection, the clerk issues the certificate of title and the property is yours, as is. If someone still lives there, you ask the court for a writ of possession.

Polk County auction questions

Where are Polk County foreclosure auctions held?: Polk County runs its foreclosure sales online through RealForeclose, at https://polk.realforeclose.com. Monday to Friday, except legal holidays, 10:00 am Eastern.
What deposit is required at a Polk County foreclosure sale?: 5% of your estimated final bid, by electronic check or in person by cash, cashier's check or money order.
When is the balance due after winning a Polk County foreclosure auction?: The balance plus the registry service charge is due in person by 12:00 pm Eastern the next business day, or the sale is declared void and reset.

Before you bid in Polk

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Counties near Polk

Source: Polk County Clerk. Clerks change deadlines and fees. Confirm before you bid.